THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

June 4, 1976 43

Political Overtones, Harmony Mark Near East Writers Meeting

BY EDNA COFFIN
University of Michigan

Arab authors, they were great deal to a better under-
the village poets in Anato lia months in solitary confine-
listened to politely as they
have been and no matter
Sponsored by P.E.N., the spoke and read, and they standing of the area.
who roam around the cou
n- ment and while the book
The many esthetic experi-
how questionable its liter-
international writers organ- had a unique opportunity
tryside reciting prote st had been taken away from
ization, and by Princeton to listen to their counter- ences shared by all during
poems deploring the con di- him, the words of Arthur ary rather than propaganda
merits are, it was my opin-
University, a meeting of parts from Egypt, Leba- the conference were the
tions of the peasants, a nd Miller remained with him
ion that it was not totally
readings of Near Eastern
writers, poets, critics and non and Iraq.
consequently are oft en during the time he spent in
out
of place. It may not have
literature
in
the
original
scholars from the Near East
jailed by the governmen t. solitary.
Iranian poets and writers
been exactly nice, but it did
and the United States took could read freely without languages by the authors
There was no doubt that t he
Megged, an Is-
reflect Near Eastern reality.
place ;n May in New York fearing governmental cen- themselves. The tradition of highlight of the conferen ce raeli Aharon
writer, joined Idris and
This was a conference on so-
reading
aloud
of
poetry
and
City and Princeton, New sorship, and Turkish writ-
was Yashar Kemal's chan t- Miller in expressing the
ciety and literature, and not
prose is very strong in the
Jersey.
ing of a protest poem, whi ch hope that words will indeed
ers had a ready format for
a
peace conference.
They came from Iraq, Is- their criticisms of the West. Near East, and the sound of
although written two centu- change people, and spoke
words
and
phrases
becomes
The conference ended
rael, Egypt, Lebanon, Iran,
ries ago, seemed appro- more specifically about ar-
The New York meetings,
with the note that more
and Turkey, to discuss Near sponsored by the American a unique experience for the
priate today.
riving at a better under-
must be done to translate
Eastern society in literature Center of P.E.N., were listener.
The discussions in the standing between Israelis
Near Eastern literatures to
The
form
and
sound
of
a
and to read from their chaired by such literary fig-
conference did not center on and Arabs through litera-
the Western languages, and
works. The four days were ures as Arthur Miller, Kurt poem at times seemed more the nature of literature ture. Yashar Kemal, intro-
in particular to English, in
ull of discussions, speeches, Vonnegut, Jr., John Updike, important than its content.
alone, but also on the role of ducing a short story of his
order to acquaint western-
,eadings of poetry and Elizabeth Hardwick, W. S. One does not have to know a
the writer as a humanist which was read the next
ers with these literatures.
----- Prose, and many individual Merwin and the theatre word of Arabic, Persian or
and as a contributor to night, also repeated this
The representative of
exchanges among writers critic Richard Gilman. Turkish to appreciate the
changes in society.
notion, but not as a note of
Mobil Oil, which contrib-
and students of Near East- Panel discussions on poetry, readings.
Starting with a positive hope, but rather as a cer-
uted to the financing of
The personality that note, this theme ended
ern literature.
fiction, theatre and dra-
tainty. He declared repeat-
this conference, suggested
This specific time set matic arts, as well as tran- captivated the entire audi-
with strong political over- edly that all those who read
that there be a Mobil
aside for discussion of liter- slation were held with the ence was Turkish Socialist
tones advocating that the his books will never be able
Prize similar to the Nobel
ature, the geographical dis- participation of writers and writer Yashar Kemal. His
writer use his literature to to kill.
Prize.
move people to action, and
tance from the Near East, experts in the various fields. initial address to the con-
This humanistic and
Yusuf Idris said that he
ference,
delivered
in
Turk-
make it subservient to pol- moral tone was jarred by
and the good will on the part
Many of the Near Eastern
would be much happier
itical causes. The opening the reading presented by
of most of the participants writers brought their trans- ish, called for an end to
receive the Mobil Prize,
statement by Arthur
contributed to a meeting of 1-tors along, and conse- imperialism and threat-
which probably would mean
Miller expressed the hope Halim Barakat, a gradu-
the minds, which is so rare quently there was an oppor- ened to be a first in a series
that literature, which ate of the University of a lot more money than the
nowadays in any given tunity to hear the sound of of political addresses,
Barakat, who is
Nobel Prize, however he had
forum which deals with the diverse languages of the however that was not the
should be moral though Michigan.
also
an
author,
read from
to express his own objec-
case.
From
time
to
time
Near Eastern society.
not
moralistic,
could
con-
Near East, as well as listen
his book "Days of Dust."
tions to the Mobile Oil Corp.
tribute to changing the A professor of sociology at
No walk-outs were to the content of the papers. Kemal did issue calls to
as well as to other multi-
the writers of the . Near
world for the better.
staged by any of the parti-
the University of Texas, he
state corporations which do
Papers were read in East to advance the causes
cipants, although at one
Yusuf Idris, the noted claimed to represent an
not represent the interests
point a jarring political Persian, Turkish, Hebrew of peace in the world and
Egyptian writer, reiterated entity called Syria-Leba-
of
the people.
his
pleas
met
with
warm
and
Arabic,
which
repre-
note threatened to disrupt
this note of hope, and said non, and proceeded to read
He emphasized however
the harmony achieved at sent, contrary to what is applause.
that words not only do but a section from his book
that if chosen, he would ac-
An open shirt, a deep
the meeting. Although the generally believed, differ-
must change people. He which described the collec-
cept
such a prize, in spite of
booming
voice,
a
great
sense
ent
families
of
languages:
Israeli writers present,
spoke of his own experience tive Israeli as a hyena and
his objections. At this point
Aharon Megged and Hahn Persian (Iranian) is an of humor, a warm personal-
and the profound impact advocated its destruction,
a remark was made that the
Gokri, could not establish Indo-European language, ity, and total disregard for
that Arthur Miller's words not by the pen, but by the
Nobel Prize was subsidized
had on him.
a free dialogue with the while Turkish is an Altaic the formalities of the con-
gun.
by moneys of an industrial-
language, and Hebrew and ference were much appre-
He was detained in Egypt
Needless to say the reac-
ist who produced explosives.
BILLY
Arabic are Semitic lan- ciated by all. His sponta- and the book which was con-
neous remarks were a fiscated from him by the tion of the Israeli writers,
guages.
THE CLOWN!
especially that of the poet
The language difference welcome relief during the government was "The Death Haim Gouri, was very
Children love
long and at times tedious of a Salesman," which was
emphasized
the
fact
that
Available For All Occasions
BIRTHDAY PARTY
strong, as the very preca-
sessions.
there
is
a
diversity
of
cul-
25 years experience
labeled
as
Communist
prop-
Magic and Balloons
He spoke movingly about aganda. He spent six rious note of home and posi-
tures in the Near East
tive
thinking
that
prevailed
569-1719
1-662-3700
MAGICAL MEL
which exist side by side.
in this meeting came shat-
While
similarities
could
be
547-2464
***************--
tering down with a confron-
observed in the historical
tation with a rather ugly
:Music for all occasions.+
development of some of the
reality.
RICHARDS
*Bar Mitzvahs—Weddings:
literatures of the Near East,
However, since this type
SEWING MACHINE &
LADIES' AND MEN'S
more striking were the dif-
-0( Banquets, etc.
MCL Cafeteria. Mrs.-Harold of political literature is un-
*
VACUUM CLEANER
DEPARTMENTS OF
Weiss will conduct. the last deniably part of modern
JOE ANTON
* ferences and unique fea- MICHIGAN will hold a
ir
REPAIR SERVICE
tures
and
traditions
of
each
*
meeting of the year. Mrs. Near Eastern literature, no
*
ALL MODELS
541-8067
convention June 11-13 at the
of
the
groups
present.
Morris Simrod will report matter how distasteful the
Pick Up and Delivery
**************At
Michigan Inn. The June 11
on the recent poppy sales. particular selection might
CALL 823-2877 ANYTIME
The message that sur- , activities include an oneg
Make Your Party A
Delegates and alternates to
face ti again and again was Shabat and the awarding of
Success With Music
Music by
the State Department con-
that the Western world is scholarship awards. Memo-
vention June 11-13 will be
Piano or Portable Organ
not acquainted with Near rial services will be held
elected. For information,
- Eastern cultures, and that June 12 and an election, in-
call Mrs. Weiss, 544-3744.
Big or small, we custom
dissemination of Near East- stallation and constitutional
* * *
the music to your needs.
ern literatures (in transla- discussion will complete the
Adefe *m 353-9566 tion)
could contribute a June 13 schedule. For infor-
968-2563
Herzog to Speak
mation and reservations,
at JWV Confab
The most meaningful personal jewelry —
call the convention chair-
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men, Phil Goodman or Eli-
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nor Silk at the JWV office, Chaim
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559-5680.
Licensed Electrologist
Ambassador to the United
FREE Consultation
* * *
Nations, will be among the
private and confidential by appointment
BLOCH-ROSE AUXIL-
speakers at the National
358-5493
IARY will meet 8:15 p.m.
in elegant sterling silver
Convention of the Jewish
Tuesday
at
the
JWV
head-
Hebrew
War Veterans of U.S.,
quarters. The outgoing pres-
letter
which will be held Aug.
ident will give a report, dele-
assports Quick and Inexpensive
$15
15-22 at the Diplomat Hotel.
gates
to
the
state
Tie tac
Herzog,
who
has
been
a
department convention will
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member of the Israeli De-
be chosen and programming fense
Robina at 12 Mile (near Coolidge) Berkley, Mich
Chaff ring
Forces since the
will
be
discussed.
Refresh-
$29
LI 1-2345
state's birth in 1948, has
ments will be served. For in- served as defense attache in
Bracelet
formation, call the JWV of- Israel's Washington em-
$46
I
Hebrew pendant
fice,
559-5680, or the bassy, director of military
$20
president, Gerry Feldman,
intelligence and first mili-
All jewelry shown also available in 14K gold.
398-8955, evenings.
tary governor of the West
from one to any number of musicians
* * *
Bank.
He
retired
from
regu-
OPEN
ELI LEVIN AUXIL-
lar service in 1962.
jeep smith
MON S AT
IARY will meet 8 p.m.
bill meyers
Shelby lee
9 30-5 00
patty grant
Wednesday at the JWV
jerry fenby
johnny griffith
memorial home. Guests are
Contention
a
shekion rott and vickie carroll
invited, and refreshments
Let the Professionals Perform
will
be
served.
North Park Plaza , Room 120
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17117 W. Nine Mile Road
goeth out, and where there
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LT. ROY F. GREEN
is no whisperer contention
(313) 5596140
AUXILIARY will meet
ceaseth.
"music the stein way"
12:30 p.m. Saturday at the
—Proverbs

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Sam Barnett

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